Is the filing fee the total cost of getting divorced?

No. The filing fee is only what the court charges to open your case. It does not include serving the papers, notarizing documents, copies, or help with a complicated case. A simple, uncontested divorce usually costs less, while a contested one can cost more. Think of the filing fee as the starting point, not the final bill.

What if I can't afford the filing fee?

Many courts offer a fee waiver if paying would be a real hardship. You fill out a short form about your income and expenses, and if you qualify, the court reduces or removes the fee. Your state's official self-help filing resource will have the waiver form and explain who qualifies. It is worth asking before you assume you cannot afford to file.

Why does Nevada only show two fees?

Nevada sets fees county by county, and only two are publicly confirmed: Clark County (Las Vegas) at $299 and Washoe County (Reno) at $284. We would rather not guess at the other counties than give you a number that turns out to be wrong. If you live in another Nevada county, check that county's court or your state's official self-help filing resource for the exact fee.

Does Paxora pay my filing fee or file for me?

No. Paxora helps you prepare and fill out your divorce forms from your own documents, but we do not file for you and we are not a law firm. The filing fee always goes directly to the court when you submit your paperwork. We handle the form-filling part so it feels less overwhelming, and you stay in control of filing.

Guides

What Does It Cost to File for Divorce in Each State We Cover?

Financial Planning6 min readUpdated 2026-06-14

The court filing fee to start a divorce is $435 to $450 in California, $260 in Colorado, $360 in Connecticut, $137 in Texas, and $325 in Utah. In Nevada, the fee is known in two counties: $299 in Clark County (Las Vegas) and $284 in Washoe County (Reno). These are the court's fees to file the paperwork. They are not the full cost of a divorce. The rest depends on your situation. Only California has a verified average all-in court-cost total, about $579. For the other states, plan on the filing fee plus whatever your own case requires.

A plain-language look at what it costs to file for divorce across the six states we cover, with the court's filing fee for each and the response fee where it is known.

The number you're looking for, up front

Money worries are real, and you deserve a straight answer. The filing fee is what the court charges to open your divorce case. Here is what each state we cover charges to file: California is $435 in most counties, with four counties at $450 (Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Santa Clara). Colorado is $260. Connecticut is $360. Texas is $137. Utah is $325. Nevada varies by county, and only two are publicly known: Clark County, which covers Las Vegas, is $299, and Washoe County, which covers Reno, is $284. These are the court's costs, paid to the court, just to get started.

What the responding spouse pays

If your spouse files first and you are the one responding, there is usually a separate fee for that too. In California, the response fee mirrors the filing fee, so it lands in that same $435 to $450 range. Colorado is around $146 to respond. Texas is around $45. Utah is around $130. Connecticut is a little different: there is no separate response fee there, so a responding spouse does not pay one to file an appearance. In Nevada, the response fee is publicly known only in Washoe County, where it is around $202. Wherever you are, the response fee is the court's charge for joining the case, and it is separate from the filing fee.

Why filing fees are only part of the picture

It helps to be honest with yourself here. The filing fee gets your case in the door. It does not cover everything a divorce can involve. Depending on your situation, there may be costs for serving the papers on your spouse, for getting documents notarized, for copies, or for help if your case is complicated. A simple, uncontested divorce where both people agree tends to cost less. A contested one with disagreements over property or children can cost more. The filing fee is the floor, not the ceiling, and knowing that ahead of time saves you from a nasty surprise later.

The one state with a verified all-in estimate

Across the states we cover, California is the only one where we have a verified average for the full court-cost total, and that figure is about $579, with most cases landing somewhere between $560 and $650. That covers the typical court costs of getting through the process, not lawyers or other personal expenses. For the other five states, there is no reliable all-in number to quote, so we will not invent one. The honest answer for Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, Texas, and Utah is the filing fee plus the response fee where it applies, plus whatever your own case adds. If you are in California and want the deeper breakdown, look for our California divorce cost guide.

A note on Connecticut and how it's organized

Connecticut works a little differently from the others, and it is worth knowing so the paperwork makes sense. Instead of filing by county, Connecticut files by judicial district. There are thirteen of them, and the one you use depends on where you live. The filing fee is $360 across the state. And as mentioned, there is no separate response fee, which is a small bit of good news if you are the spouse responding. None of this changes the basics. You still gather your information, fill out the forms, and file with the right judicial district.

How Paxora fits in

If filling out divorce forms feels overwhelming, that is completely normal. Paxora helps you prepare and fill out your divorce court forms using your own documents. You stay in control the whole way. We do not file for you, and we are not a law firm, so the filing fee still goes to the court when you submit your paperwork. What we do is take the confusion out of the forms themselves, so the part you can control feels a lot less heavy. Every state we cover also has an official self-help filing resource, and it is worth bookmarking your state's official self-help filing resource so you know exactly where and how to file once your forms are ready.

A gentle note before you go

This guide shares general legal information to help you understand divorce filing costs. It is not legal advice, and every situation is different. Fees can change, and your own case may involve costs this guide does not cover. For advice about your specific circumstances, talk with a qualified professional, and check your state's official self-help filing resource for the most current fees and forms. You are doing the right thing by learning what to expect. Take it one step at a time.

Common questions

Is the filing fee the total cost of getting divorced?: No. The filing fee is only what the court charges to open your case. It does not include serving the papers, notarizing documents, copies, or help with a complicated case. A simple, uncontested divorce usually costs less, while a contested one can cost more. Think of the filing fee as the starting point, not the final bill.
What if I can't afford the filing fee?: Many courts offer a fee waiver if paying would be a real hardship. You fill out a short form about your income and expenses, and if you qualify, the court reduces or removes the fee. Your state's official self-help filing resource will have the waiver form and explain who qualifies. It is worth asking before you assume you cannot afford to file.
Why does Nevada only show two fees?: Nevada sets fees county by county, and only two are publicly confirmed: Clark County (Las Vegas) at $299 and Washoe County (Reno) at $284. We would rather not guess at the other counties than give you a number that turns out to be wrong. If you live in another Nevada county, check that county's court or your state's official self-help filing resource for the exact fee.
Does Paxora pay my filing fee or file for me?: No. Paxora helps you prepare and fill out your divorce forms from your own documents, but we do not file for you and we are not a law firm. The filing fee always goes directly to the court when you submit your paperwork. We handle the form-filling part so it feels less overwhelming, and you stay in control of filing.

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Paxora is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This guide is informational. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed family law attorney in your state.